[14 years of HPV vaccination: what has been achieved?]

Professor Harald zur Hausen, "father of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination" turned 85 years old this year. To mark the occasion, a retrospective look at the introduction of HPV vaccination 14 years ago is presented, highlighting the resistance that accompanied the early years of this beneficial vaccination. Even from an early stage vaccination for girls was included in the standard vaccination program of the Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO) in 2007 but it was not until 11 years later that it was recommended for boys as well. At around 50%, vaccination rates in both groups in Germany remain too low compared with other countries with school vaccination programs. Yet there are no longer any scientific doubts about HPV vaccination, which has been shown to be safe and effective in studies worldwide. Not only the reduction of precancerous lesions but also of cervical cancers could be shown in real-life studies in addition to the strong reduction of cases of condylomata acuminata in the vaccinated individuals, which is why the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the elimination of cervical cancer by building population immunity as a vaccination goal. To this end, further efforts should be made to increase vaccination rates in Germany, which was also included in a corresponding appeal at the Conference of Health Ministers in June 2021.